Mint Condition

I decided to re-run one of my favorite "last season" colors over the weekend.  I jazzed up my fingers with Minted by Revlon while accessorizing my ring fingers with Sally Hansen's Gold Chrome ColorQuick Nail Pen. My roommate came home, took one look at my nails (which I painted in bed Saturday morning while watching a self-imposed My So-Called Life Marathon on netflix) and deemed them to be "missing something."   I don't have it captured on camera, but I did add coat of gold glitter (so old the label is worn off so I have no idea what brand it even is) to all of my nails to tie the look together.

I'd like to think this look is Jordan Catalano approved.  

Summer is coming, right?

According to the calendar, we are a week into spring - not that you'd know it.  I am so tired of wearing boots, scarves, sweaters, etc.  I am itching for sandals, maxi dresses, and shorts (oh my!).

Aidan Mattox Strapless Metallic Weave Gown

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Splendid Rugby Stripe Maxi Dress

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Sam Edelman "Gigi"

(I'm having a major leopard moment right now)

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Free People Shorts

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Charlie Jade "Amy" Print Silk Romper

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 I just picked up some super fun bright orange nail polish to get in the mood for summer.  Now when I tap the weather icon on my phone (to see SNOW predicted this week, ugh) I am reminded of all things bright, sunny, and tropical.

Wet N Wild Wild Shine Polish in Sunny Side Up

only $0.99!!!!

Choosing this tangerine shade while dreaming of summer shouldn't come as a surprise.  Remember my posting about spring and summer's hot new shade from January?  

I Can't...

Apparently there is some sort of growing trend in 3-dimensional nail art.  The only reason I am posting this is because the girl who rang up my groceries at Pathmark tonight was sporting 3-D bows and gems on her nails that looked so intense I know her fingers must be exhausted by the end of her shift.  I mean, I am all for fun nail colors, sparkles, designs, and even patterns but this is just too much for me and my tips.  

Exhibit A

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Exhibit B (Josie from Married to Rock)

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I'll say it again, I draw the line at glitter or an occasional gem.  Please see my post about Hello Kitty nail polish when you feel the urge to glue a 3-D Hello Kitty to your ring finger.  Your nails will thank you later.

Freebie!

Who doesn't love a good giveaway?  The peeps at one of my must reads, Refinery29, are giving away O.P.I.'s new SoftShades collection!  Visit their site for more details, but basically you just need to comment on their article with a photo of your current nails (make sure they're polished, don't embarrass yourself) and you just might be gifted with the full Femme de Circque set.  You really should be reading this site daily anyways...

Quick (glamorous) Fix

I decided to take a break from my pastel polish last week.  I gave Sally Hansen's Color Quick nail pen in Gold Chrome. While it lacked the luster of Minx, a glossy top-coat did up the shine factor.  While I am forever craving nails like these...

                          

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...in the meantime I'll have to rely on my girl Sally for the poor man's substitute.  In a pinch, I highly recommend these chrome color pens.  They are super easy to use, less messy than regular polish, and dry in about a minute.  Go spread some metallic cheer!

The Royal Treatment

A savvy friend sent me a link for this absurd nail look today (thanks Jared).  Maybe I don't get it because I'm not British, but I don't think that's the case.  I love the Royals, and I will definitely be watching Will and Kate's wedding bright and early on April 29th, but I do not condone this manicure.

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Flower Power

It's no secret that I have a slight addiction to Sally Hansen Salon Effects.  In honor of the first day of Spring (totally coincidental, but I'm going with it) I picked up a set of nail strips in Girl Flower.  I have to say, this is my third time applying these, and for some reason this print went on easier than the others I've tried.  While Sally claims you don't need a top-coat with these, I highly recommend applying a coat of clear to really seal the look.  And while we are talking about top-coats, I have had a request for maintaining chip-free nails.  I keep my look "polished" with Jordana Topcoat.  Its super cheap, available in most drug stores, and really helps nail polish last longer!

I am completely obsessed with this look and actually stared at my own nails all day.

Glitz and Glam

I hit Sephora (Flatiron) with my visiting mother over the weekend.  She plopped herself down in the makeup chair and had her makeup done by the very fashionable Tee.  While my mom was in awe of the mineral makeup being swirled upon her face, I was mesmerized by Tee's nails.  As embarrassing as it sounds, I told her about my humble little blog and begged for a snapshot of her  tips.  She happily obliged and here is the resulting image.

Since I was only armed with an iPhone, it's not the best picture.  These nails were actually courtesy of a gel manicure.  Tee explained to me that her manicurist dipped her ring finger in loose glitter and then sealed it with  a gel top-coat.  Take my word for it, her nails looked great!

Between the Sheets

You would have to live under a rock not to know who Deborah Lippman, manicurist to the stars is.  While perusing her collection online I fell in LOVE with a bold fushia, Between the Sheets (how much do you love that name?!).  I'm not a celebrity (yet) but I can treat my nails to the celebrity treatment with this gorg polish - ringing in at $16 - a little pricey for polish, but a steal compared to what one of Ms. Lippman's manicures must cost.  I cannot wait to give this shade a whirl.  

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Maybe it's just me, but seeing this bold shade is making me picture it on my toes here:

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Or maybe poking out of a pair of these:

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Hello Sephora!

I will admit to thinking Hello Kitty is fun.  I will not admit to having a Mariah-like obsession with the brand.  Keeping that in mind, Sephora exclusively presents a fabulous line of Hello Kitty liquid nail art.  I know it sounds juvenile, and while the bottles shaped like Ms. Kitty's head are more on the youthful (or young at heart) side, the colors are fabulous.  This polish is high gloss, anti-chip, and resistant to water and detergent.  I cannot wait to get my paws on this.


The hardest part is choosing which color to try first ($10 a pop)!

For those looking to branch into nail art (or looking to give your pre-schooler digits to make her the envy of the sandbox) check out these Hello Kitty Nail Art Stickers, also available at Sephora!

Spring Fever

As I was rendered helpless in bed from a semi-crippling hangover yesterday (Hoboken St. Patty's Day got me real good), I began to contemplate my spring nail polish wish list.  I was way to ill to take on re-painting my chipped digits (painted to resemble the Irish flag), but I was able to do some spring polish research.  While I love the dark shades that winter brings (black, navy, brown, etc.) I am eager to slap some pastel polish on.  I have major spring fever, and even if my wardrobe cannot currently reflect that, hopefully my fingers can.  That being said, here are my top five trends for spring nails:

1.  NUDE! And I don't mean Ballet Slippers. I am talking about actual flesh colored polish.  The same way nude pumps elongate the legs, nude polish can make your fingers look longer and more slender.  I am so loving this very polished look.

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2.  Lavender.  I know I have copped to having a serious lavender fetish last spring.  I won't even try to tell you it wasn't directly influenced by Khloe Kardashian's nails.  Rumple's Wiggin from the OPI Shrek Collection was seriously my jam and I have a feeling I'll be hitting it hard again this year.  I got soooo many compliments on this color and it screams SPRING!  

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3.  Peach.  Keeping with the pastel trend, my next shade du-jour is peach.  I can totally see this color on some nice tanned hands.  American Apparel has some amazing nail polish shades, and this is no exception.  The color is called Summer Peach and I am just dying to get my hands on it (haha).

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4.  Turquoise.  I have already nailed this spring trend prediction.  While turquoise nails are not for the faint of heart or hand, it is a fun spring-y look.  I actually recently found a shade of turquoise a little lighter than the one I have already rocked and I am looking forward to trying it out.  Not only is the color eye-popping, but it comes in a nail polish pen! What's not to love?

Nic's Sticks by OPI in Baby Go Bye-Bye via

5.  Mint Green.  I cannot get enough of this color (and it has nothing to do with my love of mint-chocolate-chip ice cream).  It looks so fresh and crisp on all skin shades.  One of my girlfriends recently painted her nails this shade and text me mid-manicure.  I'm especially loving Chanel Jade.

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Decisions, decisions.  What are your spring polish must-haves????

Total Devastation

I feel like such an amateur nail aficionado. I have been literally singing the praises of WAH-Nails for weeks now and didn't do enough leg-work to discover they have a salon IN DUBLIN.  Ugh, talk about kicking myself.  I missed out on the chance to have my talons tamed by some truly talented Irish lasses.  I guess I only have three options - go back to Ireland again, go to London, or wait for them to open up shop in the US.  Since we are on the subject, I'll show you a few pics WAH-Nails Dublin have tweeted.  I am seriously obsessed with creative nail art and design right now.  Already thinking of ways to recreate these looks on a budget...

I'll try not to cry into my bottle of acetone while I think about the manicure that could have been...